Ramblings Of A Very Intoxicated Madman By Dejan of Digital Diktator

Ramblings Of A Very Intoxicated Madman

By The Diktator

Greetings fellow prisoners of planet Earth. 

Thought it would be time to get some of my personal thoughts out there, for all of you to enjoy…hehe 

"The Eye Is My Teacher….Enlightenment Flows… Pathways Open…. There Came Lord Steve" - this is exactly how I would explain the beginning of our bands journey….if i would write my own "bible"….which would then be read in a few thousand years…….and again be misunderstood, by a bunch of retards……:) 

But anyway, I and the rest of the Diktator crew - Rösti and The Dynamic Statue, are very proud to be a part of SDR. It‘s good to be here in its beginnings and enjoy the unified progression through the times, with the best label mates someone could ever hope for and whom WE, if all goes as it should, hope to meet very very soon!!:) 

And if I ever hear somebody say that there is no more freshness in electro, i will bash his face in, and after he wakes up from the coma, send him a few links….:) Because i think those sheeple don‘t even know what the are saying‘… SDR should be a synonym for versatility, because it has everything, from drama, happiness and romance to terror, hatred and insanity. But some humans seem to be deaf AND blind… 

And don‘t get me started about the youth of today and their lack of respect towards artists/bands/performers and the "Single Based Structure" of listening to music. 

Nowadays, most humans just listen to singles… It‘ pathetic. But i won‘t go there, i will not make this post about my utter hatred towards those kinds of sheeple….. Because i think i already made my way of thinking clear throughout the years…hehe This is more about our gratitude for Steve and the rest of the SDR crew, for taking us in and making us a part of something special. We will never disappoint them!!!! And next year, at the SDR Gathering, we will show everybody that their faith in us is not in vain and that British Electro is alive, mad, fresh and intelligent and make them shout SDR SDR SDR!!!!!! 

Although, technically we are not British,hihi….But that‘s how at home SDR has made us feel. 

We know we are not British, yet every time we make music, talk to our label mates or think about the future of Digital Diktator, we all feel like we are just a few minutes away from everybody:) And hopefully, one day, we will be. Because we love this bunch of misfits:)) And the fact, that they are all so open minded, fascinates us. We can be who we are and still, they show us love. They represent everything, which i like to call Homo-Luminous a.k.a. Human 3.0, The Awakened Ones.

Here, at SDR, I and my minions can be who we are and we are grateful and happy :) Hard to find interesting, intelligent and open minded people these days. And we have:) In a way, we are all different in one concept or another, yet together we form a unity, which no one will be able to break. It makes my ears clap:) So to Steve and the SDR disciples we would like to say THANK YOU and here‘s to 50 more years!!!!! SHEMHAMFORASH!!!!

This is it for now, yet it shall be continued!!!

And to our fans i would like to say this:

I know it has been a while since the last post of songs, but we are 110 percent in the making of 2 albums at once, because we have a lot of material, which, we think, needs to be released soon, for the next batch of ideas to get recorded:) And since some parts of the music production got delayed, we decided to continue on the re-release of our first EP, transforming it into an album with re-mixed/re-mastered versions of old songs and added new songs, until we wait. So, yes, it took some time, but as soon as both are finished, everything will go faster and it won‘t take as long for the next album to get released…. and after both are released, we have something special planned, of which i shall not reveal anything yet :) But trust me, it will be awesome, hilarious and it will make the world dance:) 

And, we even have plans worked out,for after that one…so, our friends and fans, get ready for some major insanity to arrive from the Diktator camp in coming years!! So thank you all for exposing your ears to our sounds, and hope you‘ll all dig the future of Digital Diktator!!

Until next time my friends and before i go, i leave you with this, Digital Diktator - Seek Help:

Making music for the fiscally challenged By Gary Walker (Defeat)

Making music for the fiscally challenged - a case for using "freebies" By Gary Walker (Defeat)

To many (i.e. most) of us electronic musicians, I suspect that cost is one of major factors that governs the gear we buy and the software and plug-ins we use.

To borrow a phrase from Family Guy's Peter Griffin, what really "grinds my gears" is that some folk out there (usually "pros" who wouldn't think twice about dropping a ton of cash for a Macbook pro or a very expensive suite of plug-ins) still think that for serious music making you need to spend serious amounts of money and use serious gear, hand-made by nymphs and delivered via unicorn.

OK, I'm exaggerating a bit, but the cost of some gear is frankly beyond the reach of most of us mere mortals who have day-jobs and families to support and don't have the luxury of making a living from making music.

The point I'm trying to make is this: for a long time, I've beaten myself up that I'm not using Kontakt, Nexus, or whatever the current VST-du-jour is.

After agonizing over the fact I may not be using the "right" synth for a bass part or the wrong drum plug-in, I'm now at the point now where I actually no longer care and I tend to use free VSTs alongside those that are part of my DAW.

This is not to say I'm the modern embodiment of Ebeneezer Scrooge - far from it - I've found that ploughing my own furrow this way has allowed me to find my own sound, rather than sound like “everyone else". It has also forced me to be more creative and experiment, and I find myself creating my own sounds from scratch rather than relying on presets.

There is a lot of great free stuff out there to be found for us impoverished musicians to use, so I urge all of my fellow musicians to see what free treasures you can unearth and use on your next masterpiece - seek and ye shall find!

Thanks to Gary for his thoughts!

For those of you that haven't checked out Gary's act 'Defeat' yet, check this out!

Defeat's Outburst EP and their free to download Remix album can be found here!

Is 'Industrial' relevant?

Industrial as a 'genre' has always been problematic for me, as its always been a bit of a fluffy term.

What exactly IS Industrial?

What links VNV Nation, Combichrist, Skinny Puppy, Covenant, Hocico, Ministry and Apoptygma Bezerk so that they can exist alongside each other?

Wikipedia (the wonderfully informative and unreliable source that it is) describes Industrial Music as:

"Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes..."

and later continues:

"While the term was initially self-applied by a small coterie of groups and individuals associated with Industrial Records in the 1970s, it broadened to include artists influenced by the original movement or using an "industrial" aesthetic.^[3] These artists expanded the genre by pushing it into noisier and more electronic directions. Over time, its influence spread into and blended with styles including ambient and rock, all of which now fall under the post-industrial music label. The most notable hybrid genres were industrial rock and industrial metal, which include bands such as Nine Inch Nails and Ministry, both of which released platinum-selling albums in the 1990s. Electro-industrial music is a more recent development. These three genres are often referred to as simply industrial."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_music

Clear as mud I am sure you will agree.

So what we are left with is a music genre that is largely defined by the aesthetics and themes as opposed to the instrumentation, BPM or Rhythm..

So why persist with a genre name that is so unhelpful in encapsulating the music under its umbrella, and does the modern scene have any relevance to this genre?

Some would argue most modern Industrial music sits under the separate genres of EBM, Electro Rock/Metal, Future Pop and Hardstyle all of which regularly flirt with Dubstep, Drum and Bass, and the more mainstream electronic genres.

With established artists like Uberbyte making steps towards the more mainstream dance scene, and Combichrist reaching out to the Metal scene, perhaps things are already in motion.

I suppose time will tell as to whether Industrial will survive as a genre or be reduced to an aesthetically descriptive term only, much like Cyberpunk, Steam punk or one could argue, Goth.

I will leave you today with a little taster of a track that straddles a few different genres all at once...the beautiful, epic and majestic 'The Window' by Digital Diktator:


Available as part of a free download here:Digital Diktator - From The Edge Of The Universe

Perhaps it is the end of the world? Oh no wait its just Industrial

2012 has largely been a very good year for Static Distortion Records, with outstanding reviews received, new releases from nearly every band and just a general sense of positivity and achievement.

However, from time to time, I lift my head up and listen to the chattering on sites like Facebook, Vampirefreaks and Violent Playground and begin to wonder if I have fallen into a parallel universe.

There is an awful lot of negativity about Industrial at the moment, from the Misogyny accusations aimed at Combichrist and Nachtmahr, to the "direction" the scene is going in, to discussions about the death of Industrial and the separation of its fan-base into similar genres like Hardstyle, Dubstep and Witchhouse.

Its all doom and gloom, and I must confess I have been sucked into thinking this way too from time to time.

However, it then occurred to me how ridiculous this concern is...been listening to others and taking their words at face value when there are still hundred of bands and artists out there producing great music.

Don't get me wrong, It's as difficult to be heard as it ever was, and it can be frustrating at times, but so long as we remember that its all about the music and not the egos and tantrums of a discontented few, there are more good times than bad to be had.

I will make a deal with you; I will stay positive if you all will :)

So, enough about the end of the world, lets enjoy the music and forget the bullshit!

I will leave you with this outstanding track and lyric video, of which the track is still available for free download here: http://staticdistortionrecords.co.uk



Steve

VOTE NOW FOR NEW MUSIC

It would seem that the on-line vote is increasingly being used by promoters to generate their line-ups, both in smaller shows and indeed festivals.

For the smaller bands still trying to build a fanbase, good live shows are where you can make it happen, so what happens when you then put these acts up against more established acts in a popularity contest in order to play a good live show?

There is also the argument that there are plenty of people that will vote for a band on-line, but they aren't necessarily the same ones that will be paying to see them.

Its a hell of a lot easier to click a button saying you will do something, than it is to actually go out of your way to do it AND spend money doing it.

We are all aware of the Facebook Event Phenomena where you half the number of people that are listed as 'attending' an event in order to get closer to the real number of attendees...

This is suggests to me is that the "VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE..." method of promoting is flawed, both in the short term in terms of the expectation of attendances, and in the long term with regards to the opportunities to see new artists develop.

This is all my personal opinion, and as ever I stand to be corrected on any of my comments!

Steve Fearon

Getting to know Digital Deformation

Who is in this project and what do they do? 
This project is a one man project consisting of of me, Matt.J.Powell, and i play keys, synths, and sound production. 

How and why did the project start? 
The project started after my last band, Einsatzgruppen collapsed. This gave me the opportunity to experiment in a non mainstream direction, and to really explore what i could achieve as a solo musician. after a few demo albums, i was able to define a unique sound which accumulated in my first official release, No Signal.


Who would be you three main musical influences? 
Nine Inch Nails, Aphex Twin and Skinny Puppy 


Who is your main influence outside of music? 
My surroundings. I live, and grew up in a post industrial port town, with high unemployment, closed factories and a general feeling of stagnation. This really influences my music, and it is the core of what DD is about.






What is your favourite instrument/piece of kit? 
Without a doubt, my old battered up PC! Without it, DD would not be possible. 


If you could do the soundtrack to any film, what would it be? 
Alien. With its dynamics in pacing, would be a great opportunity to really write some cold soundscapes, and to write a banging hard industrial stomper for the final scenes! 


If you could collaborate with any artist outside of the Alternative scene, who would you pick? 
Katy Perry, just for the opportunity to get her greased up for dirty music video! 


Last track you listened to other than your own? 
Syndicate by Digitalism 


Tell us about your next release?
The next release is gonna be a bit of a departure for DD, with a more stompy, hard hitting edge. There will also be some soundscapes, and a overall theme lyrically, so a bit of a concept album. I'm looking forward to it! 


Why should people pay for your music? 
Because its 10 quid not going to Lady Gaga, lol 


Sell yourself to potential listeners in a single sentence! 
Interesting, experimental, hard hitting music from the depths of Essex! 

What was the best Decade for music? 
The 90s. Really was a time were bedroom artists were appearing, and pushing the boundaries of electronic music. Music never sounded more futuristic or frightening than it did in the 90s. 


What is your dream 5 band gig line up (Current or defunct)? 
NIN, Skinny Puppy, Aphex Twin, Squarepusher and DD! 


What would be your dream rider at a gig?
Katy Perry and a case of Paulaner [Baverian beer]!

If you are interested in hearing more Digital Deformation tracks, please check out Static Distortion Records Webstore for free downloads and to get yourself a copy of 'No Signal'

Static Distortion Records Introduces DEFEAT!

1. Who is in this project and what do they do? 
G: Defeat are Anthony Matthews (A) and me (Gary - G). Ant is the vocalist and I play synths and make most of the noises you hear. We write everything together so there's no distinct lyrics/music split. 

2. How and why did the project start? 
G: Ant and I have known each other since we were 13, and have been writing together for years. At first, we did straightforward pop songs, but we both got "bitten" by Depeche Mode and our songs took a darker turn. NIN and Nitzer Ebb then came along, and almost all of what we had written before was binned and we reinvented ourselves musically. I'd always wanted to make music in some way since I saw synth-pop maestro Howard Jones with his Juno 60 and Jupiter 8 on "Top of the Pops" in 1983. 
A: For me the "darker" turn came from my time in college with my introduction to outside influences. I remember being recommended Nitzer Ebb and was hooked and in the same year discovered Trent Reznor's "Pretty Hate Machine" debut and that was it. 


3. Who would be your three main musical influences? 
G: What I call "classic-era" Depeche Mode (86-90); NIN and Nitzer Ebb are always lurking in the background for me, as these were the artists that for me shape what I do musically. 
A: I can only agree. Though if I can add in a few more, Gary introduced me to the work of Neuroticfish and I loved his energy and vocal style. Front 242 and early Frontline Assembly. 


4. Who is your main influence outside of music? 
G: My wife and kids. Family. Friends. Life. 
A: For me it is just simply what is around me. Be it friends, what I read (though I don't read enough), movies and my experiences good or bad.


5. What is your favourite instrument/piece of kit? 
G: My old Roland W-30. It shaped our early sound that has lead us to where we are now. The old girl doesn't get much love these days, but I do hope she will make a triumphant return at some point in the future. 
A: Ha ha ha - my head is my instrument!! As the "non-musician" in the band Gary will tell you it all comes from a tune, a vocal and a beat in my head and he has the un-enviable task of getting it out of there! 


6. If you could do the soundtrack to any film, what would it be? 
G: Silence of the Lambs, which is one of my favourite films. 
A: For me it would have to be a Terminator or a Christopher Nolan movie. 


7. If you could collaborate with any artist outside of the Alternative scene, who would you pick? 
G: It would have to be Howard Jones, 80s synth-pop meister. Seeing him with his Juno 60 and Jupiter 8 on "Top of the Pops" years ago gave me the synth bug. 
A: Again, I got to agree with Gary on that one. Though I’d argue that in his heyday he was alternative too. 


8. Last track you listened to other than your own? 
G: "Boy" by Viktoria Modesta. 
A: "Waking up Angels" by MiXE1 - just listened to the full Module 01 EP for the first time. 


9. Tell us about your next release? (Keep it short and concise) 
G: Outbursts! Our first release can be summed up simply as 4 tracks of Atmosphere, Angst and Rhythm. Unsettling and dynamic, going from shade to light and back again in the blink of an eye! 
A: Outbursts! Pretty much covers in 4 tracks what we are about. Emotional, song-led electronic music. 


10. Why should people pay for your music? 
G: As an artist I know and appreciate the effort and work that goes into making music, and if I find music I like I will always buy it to support the artists. I expect my hard work in creating music to be recognised in the same way. 
A: When you buy music, if it is well-written from the heart you are buying a part of them. I buy music to connect to that artist for the same reason I want to be at their gigs to be in the same room singing their songs with them. 


11. Sell yourself to potential listeners in a single sentence! 
G: If you like your music personal, powerful and emotional then Defeat are for you! 
A: For emotional, atmospheric, passionate, angst-ridden and powerful electronic music - choose Defeat! 


12. What was the best Decade for music? 
G: There is no true "best decade" in my mind. Every decade has had its good and it's bad, but if I had to pick a decade it would be the 80's 
A: For me it is the 80's still. That is where the origins of all my influences come from. 


13. What is your dream 5 band gig line up (Current or defunct)? 
G: Depeche Mode (circa 1990), Nitzer Ebb, Sisters of Mercy, Defeat and Elvis (circa 1970 before the drugs wrecked him). Not necessarily in that order, mind :) 
A: Howard Jones, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails and Nitzer Ebb all supporting Defeat with all of them joining us for various tracks at some point. 


14. What would be your dream rider at a gig? 
G: Fried egg and bacon sarnies with HP sauce in doorstep bread. That and a beer or two to share with good company. 
A: Drinks and Fish and Chips supper with the above artists reminiscing until the early hours. (Well that’s the clean version!)

The Infection Vol 2 AVAILABLE AS OF TOMORROW!

Ghost In The Static have decided to release the 2nd EP of 'THE INFECTION' series early, so get your free downloads lined up for another brand new track, and remixes from Machine Rox, Digital Deformation and FleshEatingFoundation!

The tracks involved are included below, and are available from the 24th February right HERE

February Update

Just a quick update to let people know what is going over at SDR HQ.

Digital Deformation

Matt is diligently working away on his next album, and from the few bits i have heard, its going to be a real stonker!

After the great response to 'No Signal', big things are expected of the next album and you will not be disappointed.

We are aiming for a release towards the end of the year :)



Digital Diktator

Our friends in Slovenia are just putting the finishing touches to their debut EP, which i expect to be able to hear in the next 7-14 days before we begin uploading some tracks for people to enjoy.

Following that will be their debut album, which is going to be going in a slightly different direction.

We should have some more news about Digital Diktator very soon!



Ghost In The Static

We are currently finishing up a few tracks on the new album, which we will be releasing some details about very soon.

There is also 'The Infection Vol 2' which like Vol 1 will be free to download and feature remixes from some of the hottest artists in the Alternative Electronic scene.

This will be made available very soon!

Ghost In The Static will be playing Dark 7 on March 10th for the 2nd year straight, details of which are available on the left column of this page, including links to buy the tickets direct from our webstore.



MiXE1

MiXE1's eagerly anticipated follow up to Module 01 is nearing release, with dates and track details available very very soon.

There will also be a Limited Edition Module 01 & Module 02 CD produced for you CD collectors that will feature several bonus tracks that will not be featuring on any other releases, so this is going to be a real collectors edition!

There are also a few other releases in the pipeline for MiXE1, but you will have to wait for more info on those ;)

For those of you that missed it first time round, here is an interview MiXE1 recorded for the 'Incoming Fire' Podcast last year ;)



Watch this space people!

Digital Diktator Joins Static Distortion Records!

I am please to announce that Slovenian Band 'Digital Diktator' have signed with Static Distortion Records!!!

They will be looking to release their first offering very soon, so keep an eye out for that!

For now, please check out the fantastic track 'The Window' and if you enjoy it, check out their page on facebook :)